Saturday, May 18, 2013

The story is told of Napoleon Bonaparte boasting to a Vatican cardinal that he would destroy the Church. The cardinal nonchalantly replied to the perplexed emperor, "Good luck, Your Majesty.
We, priests and bishops have been attempting to do just that for centuries. And we didn't succeed. "

In effect, the bishop was doffing his scarlet biretta in
salute to the Holy Spirit. That Spirit dwells comfortably and sometimes, I
suspect, very uncomfortably within the Church. Try what anyone might; the
Church will not go away precisely because the Third Person of the Holy Trinity
is on the job around the clock. Napoleon thought the prelate was pulling his
imperial leg. He took on the Church. He was rudely dethroned. The
Church survived. The former emperor wound up beating off mosquitoes as a
full-time occupation on the damp island
of Saint Helena somewhere
in the Atlantic Ocean.

Without the Holy Spirit, the Church would be at best a third
rate operation or, perhaps better, a non-operation. But with the Spirit the
Church is today able to survive its many difficulties. With the Holy Spirit the
Church survived the centuries of persecution, the attempts of Napoleon and
French Revolution, the efforts of the Mexican and Spain’s revolutions, the
communistic domination in Russia
and East European countries. With the Holy Spirit at work the church survived
the diabolic attempts during the II World War, and is still surviving the most
atrocious persecutions in Communistic China. The Holy Spirit is at work in the
Lord’s Church, but He is also, or at least should be in work in us.

A brilliant man, a man of education, with Doctorate Degrees
and honors from most major universities, took a sabbatical. He decided to
devote as much time as it would take, one year, two years or more, and learn
all he could about Jesus. He studied ancient Greek and ancient Hebrew and
Aramaic so he could read the earliest texts about Jesus. He studied
Ignatius, Justin, Augustine, Aquinas, and all the famous theologians of
centuries, always focusing on learning about Jesus. He read the works of
modern theologians. He took courses in various foreign languages so he
could understand theologians in their original language.

After studying and studying he wrote his own book about
Jesus. It was an instant success not just in the academic circles, but in
every Christian and even non-Christian Church. The man, the esteemed
professor, was called upon to give talks about Jesus to all sorts of different
groups, from seminarians to atheists. His lectures always ended with a question
and answer period. Usually, there was no one in audience who could ask a
question that the brilliant man had not been asked before or for which he
did not have an answer at the tip of his tongue.

No one, until an elderly man raised his hand after one
lecture. The old man asked: “How is it that someone who has studied as
much as you, has learned so little?”

What? What type of an arrogant simpleton would dare
question the great scholar, the great professor? After the commotion
settled down, the scholar responded, “I am sure that I have much more to learn
about Jesus, but why do you feel that I have learned so little?” He had the old
man. At least until the man said, “You have Jesus in your head, but you
do not have him in your heart.”

Knowledge of Christ come from the head, but knowing Christ
comes from the heart. His Spirit must be within us. We have to give Him a
permission to work in us, to operate in our hearts. Otherwise we will not know
our Lord and Redeemer.

And this is the great gift of Pentecost, the solemnity we
celebrate today. The Spirit of the Lord has been given to us so that we don’t just know about the
Lord, but that we know the Lord.

But, there is something more: After
the coming of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen, the disciples did not stay in
that room luxuriating in what they had been given. They burst out to tell the
world, to announce the Good News.

Today, Pentecost, we are celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit
upon the apostles. We have just heard in the Acts of the Apostles
- "suddenly from the sky came a loud sound like the rush of a violent wind, and
it filled the whole house."

It
was a very important event of the day which changed the face of the earth. With
the Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, the Gospel began to be preached to
the whole earth.

They
were not afraid to be a witness to Jesus Christ and His Resurrection after
His death on the cross.

The
Holy Spirit is therefore, the only explanation for the fact that those ordinary
people in a very short time, carried (spread) the local word of God to the world
attracting new followers of Christ.

We can
also be sure that our church and our house is filled today, with the same
Holy Spirit giving us the same energy to be witnesses
to the Resurrection.

Since
our Holy baptism, the same Holy Spirit dwells in us, and as the Bible says -
"we are his temple."However, when we look at our Christian life it seems
that the Holy Spirit is kept in a closed tabernacle, and we do not allow Him to
act in our hearts. Yes, we have to be the temple of the Holy Spirit in which
we will hear His voice. We have to be the temple that is preached of in the
gospel.

If we are closed to the action of the Holy Spirit, we will be like
the apostles after the Resurrection - asking about the reality of our faith and
scared (afraid) to witness to the Resurrection and the great love of God for
man.

Today,
we get another chance to be open to the Holy Spirit and to learn to exceed our
imperfections and our possibilities.The Apostles went out into the world,
despite their incompetence, but thanks to their courage, we believe in our
church today.

With
the help of the Holy Spirit we also have a duty to contribute to the victory of
truth and good to the modern world.

The
church, today, needs our gifts and our talents to transform this
world.

If
you are not open to the Holy Spirit and His gifts, do not use them
responsibly, but squander them, we will also be responsible for those who do
not hear the Gospel and are not told about the love of God.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Vatican City, 13 May 2013 (VIS) – This morning, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs, presented the Holy Father with the 2013 edition of the "Annuario Pontificio" (Pontifical Yearbook, the Holy See's annual directory), in the presence of the officials responsible for compiling and printing the volumes. The "Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae" (the Church's Statistical Yearbook), which the same discastery is also responsible for, was also presented.

A reading of the information given shows some changes relative to the life of the Catholic Church in the world from 2012 to the election of Pope Francis.

In that period, it is noteworthy that there were erected: 11 new episcopal Sees; two personal ordinariates; one apostolic vicariate; and one apostolic prefecture. Also, one territorial prelature was elevated to the rank of diocese and two apostolic exarchates were elevated to the rank of eparchies.

The statistical information, which refers to the year 2011, reveals details about the Catholic Church in the 2,979 ecclesiastical circumscriptions around the planet. The number of Catholics in the world increased from 1.196 million in 2010 to 1.214 million in 2011, an increase of eighteen million faithful, corresponding to a growth of 1.5%. Over the last three years the presence of baptised Catholics in the world has remained stable at around 17.5%.

The number of Catholics with respect to the total population varies considerably between the continents. Their numbers have increased in Africa (by 4.3%), which has reported a 2.3% increase of its population between 2010 and 2011. In Asia, an increase in Catholics greater to an increase in the population was also recorded (of 2% compared to 1.2%). In the Americas and in Europe the increase in numbers of Catholics is equal to the population increase (.3%). In 2011, the total of baptised Catholics had a distribution of, by continent: the Americas (48.8%); Europe (23.5%); Africa (16%); Asia (10.9%); and Oceania (.8%).

From 2010 to 2011, the number of bishops increased from 5,104 to 5,132, a relative increase of .55%. The increase mainly involved Oceania (+4.6%) and Africa (+1%) while Asia and Europe are slightly below the world average and no variation is seen in the Americas.

The steady increase in the number of priests which began in the year 2000 has continued. On 31 December 2011, their numbers stood at 413,418 compared to last year's 412,236. Nevertheless, this was not homogeneous growth. In Africa and Asia the increase was, respectively, +39.5% and +32% (with an increase of more than 3,000 in 2011 alone). In the Americas the situation is stationary (122,000 priests) while, over the last decade, Europe has seen a decrease of more than 9%.

The number of permanent deacons registered a strong increase: from 29,000 in 2001 to 41,000 in 2011. Those present in North America and Europe count for 97.4% of the total.

The number of non-ordained male religious increased, slightly surpassing 55,000. Their numbers are increasing in Africa and Asia (+18.5% and +44.9% respectively) and decreasing in the Americas (-3.6%), in Europe (-18%), and in Oceania (-21.9%).

The is a strong decrease in the number of female religious, which currently registers 713,000 members in contrast to 792,000 in 2001. There are fewer female religious in Europe (-22%), Oceania (-21%), and the Americas (-17%). Nevertheless there is significant growth in their numbers in Africa (+28%) and in Asia (18%).

Candidates for the priesthood, diocesan and religious, have increased since 2001 (112,244) by 7.5%. In 2011 there were 120,616 registered. The strongest increase in seminarians was in Africa (+30.9%), and Asia (+29.4%), while Europe and the Americas registered a decrease in their numbers of 21.7% and 1.9% respectively.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Jesus gave to his followers the
task of completing his work by sharing the Good News with the rest of the
world.

There’s an ancient legend about the
ascension of Jesus into heaven. According to the legend, when Jesus reached
heaven, his body still showed the wounds of his crucifixion. His hands and feet
still bore the prints from the nails. His side bore the mark from the spear.
His back bore the stripes from the whip, and his head bore the wounds from the
thorns. When the people in heaven saw these marks, they fell on their knees
before Jesus.

They were astounded to see how much
he had suffered. Then the angel Gabriel rose up and said to Jesus:

“Lord, how greatly you suffered on
earth! Do all the people on earth know and appreciate how much you went through
for them and how much you love them?’’

Jesus replied: “Oh, no! Only a
handful of people in Palestine know that. The rest haven’t even heard of me.
They don’t know who I am. They don’t know how much I suffered, and how much I
love them.’’

Gabriel was shocked to hear this.
Then he said to Jesus: “How will all the rest of the people on earth ever learn
about your suffering and your love?’’

Jesus said: “Just before I left, I
told Peter, James, and John, and a few of their friends, to tell the rest of
the world for me. “They’ll tell as many people as they can. Those people, in
turn, will tell other people. In that way the whole world will eventually learn
about my love for them.’’

Gabriel looked even more confused
now. He knew how fickle people are. He knew how forgetful they are. He knew how
prone to doubt they are. So he turned to Jesus and said: “But, Lord, what if
Peter, James, and John grow tired or frustrated? What if they forget about you?
What if they begin to have doubts about you? “And even if none of these things
happen, what if the people they tell become frustrated? What if they forget?
What if they begin to have doubts about you? “Didn’t you take these things into
account? Don’t you have a back-up plan—just in case?’’

Jesus answered: “I did take all
these things into account, but I decided against a back-up plan. This is the
only plan I have. “I’m counting on Peter, James, and John not to let me down.
I’m counting on the people they tell not to let me down.’’

Twenty centuries later, Jesus still
has no other plan. He counted on Peter, James, and John, and they didn’t let
him down. He counted on the people they told, and they didn’t let him down. And
now Jesus counts on us.

The Feast of
the Ascension is the commemoration of the elevation ofChristintoheavenby
His own power in presence of Hisdisciplesthe fortieth day after HisResurrection. It is narrated inMark 16:19,Luke 24:51, and in thefirst chapterof theActs
of the Apostles.

Although the
place of theAscensionis not distinctly stated, it would appear
from theActsthat it wasMount Olivet. Since after theAscensionthedisciplesare described as returning toJerusalemfrom the mount that is calledOlivet, which is nearJerusalem, within aSabbath day'sjourney.Traditionhasconsecratedthis site as theMountofAscensionandChristianpietyhas
memorialized the event by erecting over the site abasilica.St. Helenabuilt the first memorial,
which was destroyed by the Persiansin
614, rebuilt in the eighth century, to be destroyed again, but rebuilt a second
time by thecrusaders. This the
Moslemsalso destroyed, leaving only
the octagonal structure which encloses the stone said to bear the imprint of
the feet of Christ, that is now used as anoratory.

Not only is the
fact of theAscensionrelated in the passages ofScripturecited above, but it is also elsewhere predicted and spoken of as an
established fact. Thus, inJohn 6:63,Christasks
theJews: "If then you shall see
theson of Manascend up where He was before?" and20:17, He says toMary Magdalene: "Do not touch Me, for
I am not yet ascended to My Father, but go to Mybrethren, and say to them: I ascend to My
Father and to your Father, to MyGodand to yourGod." Again, inEphesians 4:8-10, and inTimothy 3:16, theAscensionofChristis spoken of as an accepted fact.

The language
used by theEvangeliststo describe theAscensionmust be interpreted according to usage. To say that He was taken up or
that He ascended, does notnecessarilyimply that they locateheavendirectly
above the earth; no more than the words "sitting on the right hand ofGod" mean that this is His actual
posture. In disappearing from their view "He was raised up and a cloud
received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9), and entering intogloryHe
dwells with theFatherin thehonourand power denoted by thescripturephrase.

Many minds
do seem moonstruck, however, blissfully unaware of the crisis—especially the
“intellectuals,” who are supposed to be the most on top of current events. I
was dumbfounded to read a cover article in Time devoted to the question:
Why is everything getting better? Why is life so good today? Why does everybody
feel so satisfied about the quality of life? Time never questioned the
assumption, it just wondered why the music on the Titanic sounded so nice.

It turned
out, on reading the article, that every single aspect of life that was
mentioned, every single reason for life getting better, was economic.. People
are richer. End of discussion.

Perhaps Time
is just Playboy with clothes on. For one kind of playboy, the world is
one great big whorehouse. For another kind, it’s one great big piggy bank. For
both, things are getting better and better.

There is a
scientific refutation of the Pig Philosophy: the statistical fact that suicide,
the most in-your-face index of unhappiness, is directly proportionate to
wealth. The richer you are, the richer your family is, and the richer your
country is, the more likely it is that you will find life so good that you will
choose to blow your brains apart.

Suicide among pre-adults has increased 5000%
since the “happy days” of the ’50s. If suicide, especially among the coming
generation, is not an index of crisis, nothing is.MORE ...

Homily from Father Joseph Pellegrino http://www.st.ignatius.net/pastor.html 21 Ordinary Time Faith is a choice - Choices and the Onl...

Divine Mercy Chaplet

Opening PrayerYou expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed for souls, and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us. I trust in You!________________________________________1. Begin with the• Sign of the Cross,• 1 Our Father,• 1 Hail Mary• The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with(three times):Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Closing PrayerEternal God, in whom Mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen

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“I solemnly urge you:proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” (2 Tim 4,1-5)

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How to pray

How to pray the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

JESUS, WE TRUST IN YOU!

Optional Closing Prayer:

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.